With over 20 years of experience in the creative industry, steps in international agencies such as FCB and J. Walter Thompson, Michele Mariani is currently Executive Creative Director at Armando Testa Group and responsible for a Luxury Unit. He oversees all aspects of branding, design and visual communications, and during his professional path, he signed projects for brands such as Rolex, Montblanc, De Beers, Pirelli, Lavazza, Krizia, Gianfranco Ferrè, Stefanel, Ferragamo, Pomellato, Giorgio Armani. He shared projects with internationally renowned photographers like Steve McCurry, Mondino, Annie Liebovitz, Miles Aldrige, Ervin Olaf, Ellen von Unwerth, Platoon,Matthew Brookes, Peter Lindbergh.
influences
questionnaire
1.) What was your very first job?
During High school I used to get paid to make tables of ornamental design that I would sell to other students.
2.) Please describe, in your own words, what your job is and what work it entails.
My job involves managing creative processes, generating ideas, stimulating new solutions, searching for creating responses to the need of brands that give us their trust.
3.) How did you discover that the creative world was right for you? Was there a time in your life that you credit to this discovery? What was there train of events that brought you to where you are today?
I liked drawing and was attending an arts school, there I discovered that through an artistic filter reality seemed more interesting. Eventually, I met advertising.
4.) In your constantly growing and expanding industry, how do you find inspiration to keep your work fresh, innovative and relevant?
Inspiration is everywhere, sometimes it’s her reaching out to you, sometimes you have to find it, getting rid of all that’s superfluous and capturing the essence of things. At times it can be a game and easy to tackle, some other fatigue sweat and transpiration.
5.) If you had to pick one piece of work or project that you are most proud of, more for the creative work and innovation it required, rather than its recognition or industry “success,” what would it be?
The next one.
6.) What social media artist/account are you most influenced by ?
There's no artist I've been particularly focused on, I'm extremely curious about what happens on artistic digital platforms. I really like Jr's body of work for his powerful expressiveness and strong connection with the real world.
I'm fascinated by Virgilio Villoresi's poetic universe, artist and italian film-maker, his capability of grabbing you by the hand and taking you outside your daily routine toward other imaginable worlds. His work gives a brief insight of culture and time.
I appreciate the richness and freshness in the creativity of Natalya Lobanova a London based artist who makes paintings and sketches of almost everything and on every topic. From illustrations about social causes and issues to creating a perfect humor depiction, she keeps the observer involved and engaged in her thoughts and expressions.
I adore synthesis, the rigorous use of colors and contagious energy of Olimpia Zagnoli.
7.) Which creative disciplines do you commission most, and are most interested in seeing more of ? (ie, photo, film, social, experiential, vr, etc)
I find it difficult to separate the different artistic disciplines. Art and creativity arise from the breaking down of barriers, from contamination, and from breaking the rules. I like eveything that strikes, that manages to capture the attention of mankind, which is bombarded every day with million of images.